Bundesliga | Gameweek 22

Feb 15, 2025 at 2.30pm UK

Millerntor-Stadion

St Pauli vs Freiburg

Match preview

St. Pauli went into last week's Bundesliga match at Leipzig looking for their first four-game unbeaten run in the top flight since a five-match run in January-February 2011, but were beaten 2-0.

That defeat, coupled with Union Berlin's 4-0 thrashing of fourth-placed Hoffenheim, saw Blessin's side slip to 14th ahead of the 22nd round of matches, although their superior goal difference (-6) over the four teams below them - Hoffenheim (-18), Heidenheim (-18), Holstein Kiel (-21) and VfL Bochum (-27) - means they will have the advantage should goals for and against decide the relegation battle.

While the Neighbourhood Kickers are seven points clear of Heidenheim in the relegation play-off spot and eight clear of 17th-placed Kiel, Blessin's men could easily be dragged back into the relegation conversation if results dip in the final few weeks of the campaign, as they did before their recent three-game unbeaten run came to an end.

That run was preceded by six defeats in eight before the Kiezkicker took seven points from nine, and after last week's setback in Leipzig, St. Pauli will be looking to get back to winning ways to further distance themselves from the bottom four.

Despite the 12-point gap between the two sides and the eight places they occupy in the table, this is a match that could well have the travelling supporters on edge ahead of Saturday's kick-off.

Freiburg's only win over Saturday's opponents came in April 1997 - a 4-0 thrashing - but they have not beaten St Pauli since, losing 3-0 in the reverse fixture in Baden-Württemberg, the Kiezkicker's biggest ever away win in the Bundesliga.

The Brazilians from the Breisgau will be looking for only their second top-flight win against the neighbours, who have their third-worst win percentage in the league (11%), with only Bayern Munich (8%) and Borussia Dortmund (10%) worse.

However, back-to-back 1-0 victories over relegation-threatened Bochum and Heidenheim gave Julian Schuster's side back-to-back wins in the top flight for the first time since October and the third time this season, although they are yet to win three in a row in 2024-25.

Freiburg last enjoyed three successive Bundesliga victories in December 2023, when they secured back-to-back 1-0 wins over Mainz and Wolfsburg before a 2-0 triumph over FC Köln, but such a run has eluded the Brazilians in the Breisgau since.

Their recent form has left them in sixth place, two points behind fifth-placed Stuttgart and three behind Leipzig, and although their inferior goal difference prevents them from finishing in the top four this weekend, they can still dream of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time.

Conversely, defeat could see the sixth-placed side slip down the table, with Mainz a point behind, Borussia Mönchengladbach two behind and Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen three behind.

Recent Performance

St Pauli Bundesliga form:LLWWDL

Freiburg Bundesliga form:WLLLWW

Team News

Karol Mets (knee), Robert Wagner (thigh), Sascha Burchert (groin), Simon Zoller (calf) and Soren Ahlers (knee) are not expected back until later this month, while Manolis Saliakas (thigh) and Morgan Guilavogui (wrist) could be out for several weeks.

While no St Pauli player has scored more match-winning goals than Johannes Eggestein (two), Guilavogui's absence means the Kiezkicker will be without a player who has scored three home goals and two openers this season.

Freiburg's injury situation is less serious, with Florent Muslija (ankle) and Max Rosenfelder (thigh) expected to be assessed before Saturday, while Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (knee) and Bruno Ogbus (Achilles) are expected to miss out.

Although Vincenzo Grifo equalled Ritsu Doan's tally of six top-flight goals last weekend, the wide attacker trails his Japanese teammate in terms of match-winning goals, with Doan's four behind Bayern's Harry Kane (seven) and Jonathan Burkardt.

Four of Doan's six league goals have come away from home, underlining the winger's threat ahead of Week 22.

Possible starting lineup

St Pauli possible starting lineup:

Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Nemeth; Treu, Irvine, Sands, Van der Heyden; Saad, Eggestein, Weisshaupt

Freiburg possible starting lineup:

Atubolu; Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Eggestein, Hofler; Doan, Rohl, Grifo; Holer